Brush holder apparatus

ABSTRACT

A brush holder apparatus includes a cup portion which includes an open cup top and a closed cup bottom. An inverted U-shaped hanger portion is connected to the cup portion and extending upward above the open cup top. The cup portion can include a downwardly curved top cup edge. The hanger portion includes a front riser portion connected to the cup portion. A U-shaped bridge portion is connected to the front riser portion, and a rear descending portion is connected to the bridge portion. The bridge portion, the front riser portion, and the rear descending portion provide a fully open gap between the front riser portion and the rear descending portion. The brush holder apparatus can be hung from a belt worn by a wearer to receive a paint brush that has bristles wet with paint.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority based upon my copendingProvisional Application Serial No. 60/297,004, filed Jun. 11, 2001.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates generally to paint brush holdersand, more particularly, to paint brush holders especially adapted foruse on a painter's belt.

[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0005] Paint brush holders, that are worn on a painter's belt, are wellknown in the art. In this respect, throughout the years, a number ofinnovations have been developed relating to belt-worn paint brushholders, and the following U.S. patents are representative of some ofthose innovations: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,363,433, 4,746,042, 4,951,857, and5,489,051.

[0006] More specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 4,363,433 discloses a painter'sholster in which a belt is threaded sideways through belt loops in orderto hang the holster from a painter's belt. In this respect, to installsuch a painter's holster on the painter's belt, the belt must beunbuckled, the holster is installed on the belt, and the belt must berebuckled. To avoid the need to unbuckle and rebuckle the painter'sbelt, it would be desirable if a brush holder apparatus were providedwhich does not require a painter to unbuckle and rebuckle one's belt inorder to install the brush holder apparatus on the painter's belt.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 4,746,042 discloses a belt-attached paint brushholder which includes a normally closed elastic belt clip that must beopened in order to install the paint brush holder on a painter's belt.Rather than being bothered by the need to open a normally closed beltclip onto a painter's belt, it would be desirable if a brush holderapparatus were provided which includes a normally open belt clip.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 4,951,857 discloses a paint brush carrier thatincludes a rearmost belt clip, an intermediate carrier plate for thebelt clip, and a frontmost brush holder cup that is mounted on theintermediate carrier plate. For purposes of simplicity and economy, itwould be desirable if a belt clip and a brush holder cup were integratedso that the need for an intermediate carrier plate is eliminated.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,051 discloses painter's pouch which includesa belt worn about a painter's waist, an intermediate plate attached tothe belt, and a container supported on the intermediate plate. Asmentioned above in relation to U.S. Pat. No. 4,951,857, it would bedesirable if a belt-worn brush holder apparatus were provided that doesnot include an intermediate plate between the belt clip and thebrush-receiving container.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 3,277,599 may also be of interest for itsdisclosure of a fisherman's kit which is supported on the fisherman'sbelt using belt loops.

[0011] Still other features would be desirable in a brush holderapparatus. For example, often a painter works with plural colors at atime. In this respect, it would be desirable if a plurality of brushholder apparatuses were provided which are color coded.

[0012] In addition, often a brush holder apparatus is displayed in astore prior to its purchase. Often the brush holder apparatus isdisplayed on a display hanger. In this respect, it would be desirable ifa brush holder apparatus were provided that includes hanger receptionchannels for receiving a display hanger in a store.

[0013] Thus, while the foregoing body of prior art indicates it to bewell known to use paint brush holders that are carried by a painter'sbelt, the prior art described above does not teach or suggest a brushholder apparatus which has the following combination of desirablefeatures: (1) does not require a painter to unbuckle and rebuckle one'sbelt in order to install the brush holder apparatus on the painter'sbelt; (2) includes a normally open belt clip; (3) includes a belt clipand a brush holder cup which are integrated so that the need for anintermediate carrier plate is eliminated; (4) can provide a plurality ofbrush holder apparatuses which are color coded; and (5) includes hangerreception channels for receiving a display hanger in a store. Theforegoing desired characteristics are provided by the unique brushholder apparatus of the present invention as will be made apparent fromthe following description thereof. Other advantages of the presentinvention over the prior art also will be rendered evident.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] To achieve the foregoing and other advantages, the presentinvention, briefly described, provides a brush holder apparatus whichincludes a cup portion which includes an open cup top and a closed cupbottom. An inverted U-shaped hanger portion is connected to the cupportion and extending upward above the open cup top. The cup portion caninclude a downwardly curved top cup edge. The hanger portion includes afront riser portion connected to the cup portion. A U-shaped bridgeportion is connected to the front riser portion, and a rear descendingportion is connected to the bridge portion. The bridge portion, thefront riser portion, and the rear descending portion provide a fullyopen gap between the front riser portion and the rear descendingportion. The brush holder apparatus can be hung from a belt worn by awearer to receive a paint brush that has bristles wet with paint.

[0015] The front riser portion includes a front storage hanger receptionchannel, and the rear descending portion includes a rear storage hangerreception channel. The front storage hanger reception channel and therear storage hanger reception channel are in registration with eachother. A magnet member can be connected to a rear side of the cupportion.

[0016] The brush holder can be color coded. A wearer can wear aplurality of brush holder apparatuses to accommodate a plurality ofpaint brushes used for different color paints. The cup portion includesa front cup wall and a rear front cup wall, and the front cup wall istilted forward of the rear front cup wall.

[0017] The front riser portion and the rear front cup wall can becoplanar. Also, the front riser portion and the rear front cup wall canbe formed as a unified, integrated structure.

[0018] The above brief description sets forth rather broadly the moreimportant features of the present invention in order that the detaileddescription thereof that follows may be better understood, and in orderthat the present contributions to the art may be better appreciated.There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will bedescribed hereinafter and which will be for the subject matter of theclaims appended hereto.

[0019] In this respect, before explaining a preferred embodiment of theinvention in detail, it is understood that the invention is not limitedin its application to the details of the construction and to thearrangements of the components set forth in the following description orillustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.Also, it is to be understood, that the phraseology and terminologyemployed herein are for the purpose of description and should not beregarded as limiting.

[0020] As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that theconception, upon which disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as abasis for designing other structures, methods, and systems for carryingout the several purposes of the present invention. It is important,therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalentconstructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention.

[0021] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide anew and improved brush holder apparatus which has all of the advantagesof the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

[0022] It is another object of the present invention to provide a newand improved brush holder apparatus which may be easily and efficientlymanufactured and marketed.

[0023] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a newand improved brush holder apparatus which is of durable and reliableconstruction.

[0024] An even further object of the present invention is to provide anew and improved brush holder apparatus which is susceptible of a lowcost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and whichaccordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consumingpublic, thereby making such brush holder apparatus available to thebuying public.

[0025] Still yet a further object of the present invention is to providea new and improved brush holder apparatus which does not require apainter to unbuckle and rebuckle one's belt in order to install thebrush holder apparatus on the painter's belt.

[0026] Still another object of the present invention is to provide a newand improved brush holder apparatus that includes a normally open beltclip.

[0027] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a newand improved brush holder apparatus which includes a belt clip and abrush holder cup which are integrated so that the need for anintermediate carrier plate is eliminated.

[0028] Even another object of the present invention is to provide a newand improved brush holder apparatus that can provide a plurality ofbrush holder apparatuses which are color coded.

[0029] Still a further object of the present invention is to provide anew and improved brush holder apparatus which includes hanger receptionchannels for receiving a display hanger in a store.

[0030] These together with still other objects of the invention, alongwith the various features of novelty which characterize the invention,are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forminga part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention,its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses,reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptivematter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] The invention will be better understood and the above objects aswell as objects other than those set forth above will become moreapparent after a study of the following detailed description thereof.Such description makes reference to the annexed drawing wherein:

[0032]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of thebrush holder apparatus of the invention attached to a belt of a wearerand containing paint brush.

[0033]FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the embodiment of thebrush holder apparatus shown in FIG. 1, removed from the belt and withthe paint brush removed from the apparatus.

[0034]FIG. 3 is a front view of the embodiment of the brush holderapparatus of FIG. 2.

[0035]FIG. 4 is a top view of the embodiment of the invention shown inFIG. 3 taken along line 4-4 thereof.

[0036]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of theinvention shown in FIG. 4 taken along line 5-5 thereof.

[0037]FIG. 6 is a rear view of the embodiment of the invention shown inFIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0038] With reference to the drawings, a new and improved brush holderapparatus embodying the principles and concepts of the present inventionwill be described.

[0039] Turning to FIGS. 1-6, there is shown an exemplary embodiment ofthe brush holder apparatus of the invention generally designated byreference numeral 10. In its preferred form, brush holder apparatus 10includes a cup portion 12 which includes an open cup top 16 and a closedcup bottom 18. An inverted U-shaped hanger portion 20 is connected tothe cup portion 12 and extending upward above the open cup top 16.

[0040] The cup portion 12 can include a downwardly curved top cup edge14. The hanger portion 20 includes a front riser portion 22 connected tothe cup portion 12. A U-shaped bridge portion 24 is connected to thefront riser portion 22, and a rear descending portion 26 is connected tothe bridge portion 24. The bridge portion 24, the front riser portion22, and the rear descending portion provide a fully open gap 28 betweenthe front riser portion 22 and the rear descending portion 26.

[0041] The front riser portion 22 includes a front storage hangerreception channel 30, and the rear descending portion 26 includes a rearstorage hanger reception channel 32. The front storage hanger receptionchannel 30 and the rear storage hanger reception channel 32 are inregistration with each other. A magnet member 34 can be connected to arear side of the cup portion 12.

[0042] The brush holder can be color coded. The cup portion 12 includesa front cup wall 36 and a rear front cup wall 38, and the front cup wall36 is tilted forward of the rear front cup wall 38.

[0043] The front riser portion 22 and the rear front cup wall 38 arecoplanar. Also, the front riser portion 22 and the rear front cup wall38 are formed as a unified, integrated structure.

[0044] A painter often works with several different colors of paint outof five gallon buckets, and the painter often has no place to set thebrushes down when not in use. When they are placed on the edges of thepaint buckets, they often fall into the buckets. To provide a convenientapparatus for storing a wet paint brush 15, the present inventorprovides the subject brush holder apparatus 10.

[0045] To use the subject brush holder apparatus 10 of the invention,the hanger portion 20 can be slipped over a belt 11 worn by a wearer 13,as shown in FIG. 1. The belt 11 is received in the gap 28 between thefront riser portion 22 and the rear descending portion 26. Then, a wetpaint brush 15 can be placed in the cup portion 12, with the wet bristleportion of the paint brush 15 received in the cup portion 12 and thehandle portion of the paint brush 15 sticking out from the cup portion12.

[0046] When the wet paint brush 15 is to be removed from the cup portion12, the wet bristles can be slid up against the top cup edge 14 so thatexcess paint will be pushed off of the wet bristles and flow back intothe cup portion 12.

[0047] A plurality of brush holder apparatuses 10 of the invention canbe color coded to accommodate paint brushes used with different colorpaints. If desired, a painter can wear a plurality of brush holderapparatuses to accommodate the paint brushes used with different colorpaints. By using the brush holder apparatuses of the invention, wetbristles can be maintained in a wet condition and are prevented fromdrying out when not in use.

[0048] It is noted that a brush holder apparatus 10 of the invention canalso be hung on a ladder or over the side of a bucket. The magnet member34 can be used to support the brush holder apparatus 10 on aferromagnetic surface. The front storage hanger reception channel 30 andthe rear storage hanger reception channel 32 can be used to receiver astore hanger (not shown) to hold and display a brush holder apparatus 10of the invention in a store, prior to purchase. Later, the front storagehanger reception channel 30 and the rear storage hanger receptionchannel 32 can be used to receive a hanger in a person's workshop.

[0049] The components of the brush holder apparatus of the invention canbe made from inexpensive and durable metal and plastic materials. Morespecifically, the brush holder apparatus 10 of the invention can be madefrom molded plastic material. In this respect, the brush holderapparatus 10 can be a made as a single, unified structure.

[0050] As to the manner of usage and operation of the instant invention,the same is apparent from the above disclosure, and accordingly, nofurther discussion relative to the manner of usage and operation need beprovided.

[0051] It is apparent from the above that the present inventionaccomplishes all of the objects set forth by providing a new andimproved brush holder apparatus that is low in cost, relatively simplein design and operation, and which may advantageously be used withoutrequiring a painter to unbuckle and rebuckle one's belt in order toinstall the brush holder apparatus on the painter's belt. With theinvention, a brush holder apparatus is provided which includes anormally open belt clip. With the invention, a brush holder apparatus isprovided which includes a belt clip and a brush holder cup which areintegrated so that the need for an intermediate carrier plate iseliminated. With the invention, a brush holder apparatus is providedwhich can provide a plurality of brush holder apparatuses which arecolor coded. With the invention, a brush holder apparatus is providedwhich includes hanger reception channels for receiving a display hangerin a store.

[0052] Thus, while the present invention has been shown in the drawingsand fully described above with particularity and detail in connectionwith what is presently deemed to be the most practical and preferredembodiment(s) of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinaryskill in the art that many modifications thereof may be made withoutdeparting from the principles and concepts set forth herein, including,but not limited to, variations in size, materials, shape, form, functionand manner of operation, assembly and use.

[0053] Hence, the proper scope of the present invention should bedetermined only by the broadest interpretation of the appended claims soas to encompass all such modifications as well as all relationshipsequivalent to those illustrated in the drawings and described in thespecification.

[0054] Finally, it will be appreciated that the purpose of the annexedAbstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and thepublic generally, and especially the scientists, engineers andpractitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal termsor phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection thenature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.Accordingly, the Abstract is neither intended to define the invention orthe application, which only is measured by the claims, nor is itintended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

What is claimed as being new and desired to be protected by LettersPatent of the United States is as follows:
 1. A brush holder apparatus,comprising: a cup portion which includes an open cup top and a closedcup bottom, and an inverted U-shaped hanger portion connected to saidcup portion and extending upward above said open cup top, wherein saidhanger portion includes a front riser portion connected to said cupportion, a U-shaped bridge portion connected to said front riserportion, and a rear descending portion connected to said bridge portion,and wherein said bridge portion, said front riser portion, and said reardescending portion provide a fully open gap between said front riserportion and said rear descending portion of said hanger portion.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein said cup portion included downwardly curvedtop cup edge.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said front riserportion includes a front storage hanger reception channel, said reardescending portion includes a rear storage hanger reception channel, andsaid front storage hanger reception channel and said rear storage hangerreception channel are in registration with each other.
 4. The apparatusof claim 1, further including: a magnet member connected to a rear sideof said cup portion.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said brushholder is color coded.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said cupportion includes a front cup wall and a rear front cup wall, and saidfront cup wall is tilted forward of said rear front cup wall.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 6 wherein said front riser portion and said rearfront cup wall are coplanar.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein saidfront riser portion and said rear front cup wall are formed as aunified, integrated structure.